Article: Craig McLachlan makes shock return to acting after public shaming
- Signing on for new Australian feature film
- Fallen star has finally let go of ‘poisonous hate’
Craig McLachlan is making a shock return to acting in a comeback role he describes as the ‘ultimate vindication’ more than half a decade after being ‘cancelled’ amid a brutal public shaming.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal the veteran actor is poised to sign on to star in a feature film after receiving an unexpected approach from the movie’s producers.
The former Neighbours star said the resurrection of his acting career had helped him deal with the ‘poisonous hate’ that had eaten away at him since he was hounded out of the industry six years ago.
But the 58-year-old admitted he was unlikely to ever find it in his heart to forgive the former co-stars who accused him of sexual harassment and assault and that he still blames them for ‘ruining’ his life.
‘Here’s the thing: hate is a poisonous thing. You have to get rid of the hate – and I’ve done that,’ he said.
‘Forgiveness is a different story. That’s hard s**t to do.’
McLachlan said he had ‘fallen out of love’ with show business after his ‘public crucifixion’ but decided to accept the role after discussing the opportunity with long-term partner Vanessa Scammell.
‘I only just went and met with the producers and the director last week and agreed to do it,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I wasn’t expecting to be approached about a return to acting… and certainly not about signing on to do a film – it was a complete surprise.
‘But it’s a fantastic Australian production and Vanessa and I sat down and discussed it – and talked about whether it was the right thing for both of us.
‘When you’ve had your life destroyed like mine has been, you need to take a little time to rest and recalibrate.
‘I haven’t rushed into anything. I needed to think about what we wanted to do and what – physically – I could do. And we decided this was the right thing for us.’
While McLachlan said it was too early to reveal the full details of his movie role, it is understood the feature will go into pre-production in the next few months before being filmed in Australia in the new year.
The role will mark McLachlan’s first acting gig since he was bustled out of show business six years ago amid lurid allegation of sexual harassment and bullying.
The fallen star was forced to quit his leading role as Frank-N-Furter in a 2018 Australian production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show after three of his former female co-stars accused him of serious inappropriate behaviour while performing alongside him four years earlier.
He was charged with 13 offences of assault and indecent assault after Victoria Police investigated the allegations but he was ultimately acquitted on all counts following a four-week trial in December 2020.
McLachlan, who has always vehemently denied the allegations, said he had suffered crippling anxiety as a result of the ordeal and had been apprehensive about a return to the limelight.
But he said he had managed to overcome his anxiety with the help of ‘the best psychiatrist in Australia’ – and by playing guitar alongside country crooner Andy Penkow in an ongoing series of pub rock gigs around the country.
‘When you’ve gone through the ring of hell – you do wonder, “Gosh, can I ever get up and put myself out there again?” It’s tough,’ he said.
‘After going through that cruel public crucifixion, I didn’t know if I could still get up there in front of an audience – be it nine people or 900 – that was a very real, big fear for me.
‘But the worst thing a guitar can do is pop a string – so that was really reassuring and it’s been wonderful being able to engage with the people who come to the gigs.
‘It’s made a real difference. All my apprehension evaporated the moment I hit the first string and saw people starting to smile.’
McLachlan said he has even begun to ‘reclaim’ his association with The Rocky Horror Picture Show by performing a medley of the musical’s big hits during his pub gigs.
‘There’s nothing anyone can do that will destroy my relationship with that show, he said.
‘The crowd loved it and that’s what is all about for me: the people. It’s changed everything.’
McLachlan said his therapy – both on his psychiatrist’s couch and on stage along Penkow – and helped him finally overcome much of the rage that has consumed him since the allegations against him were first aired.
‘There’s so many things that happen in life that you can’t prepare for … one thing I’ve learnt through all this is that I’ve been surrounded by terrific people,’ he said.
‘When the s**t kicks off in the media, people start running for cover and they’re afraid to put their heads up to support you publicly because they’re worried about them getting chopped off.
‘But you just need to get up out of bed – and then make that bed because, at the end of what is probably going to be a very difficult day, where you feel like giving up, you’re going to need it.
‘I’ll be forever grateful to those people who did stand by me – people like Vanessa – who helped me keep going.
‘Irrespective of what anyone has ever said or alleged about me, nothing I do or say would ever be done intentionally to make anyone else feel uncomfortable. I know that’s not who I am.
‘But as for forgiveness? Ask me again about forgiveness a little further down the track.’
